Corporate Overview

Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia has a strong commitment to social responsibility. All profits are reinvested in the Indigenous Land Corporation's (ILC) Indigenous training and development across Australia.

Board of Directors

Richard (Rick) Allert AO - Chairman

Mr Rick Allert is a Chartered Accountant with many years of experience in the corporate sector. He is Chairman of AMP Superannuation Limited, N.M. Superannuation Proprietary Limited and Kakadu Tourism and a Director of Genesee & Wyoming Australia Pty Ltd, Indigenous Business Australia, Chairman of James Morrison Academy of Music Pty Ltd, Deputy Chairman of Cavill Power Products and a Director of Wirra Wirra Wines.

In 2011, Rick was the recipient of the Ernst & Young Champion of Entrepreneurship Award, Central Region, for his long record of outstanding entrepreneurial achievement and contribution to the community.

Rick was awarded a member of the Order of Australia (1997) particularly for his work with the National Heart Foundation; a Centenary Medal (2003) for service to rail, business and taxation; and an officer of the Order of Australia (2008) for leadership in corporate social responsibility.

Ian Ward-Ambler - Deputy Chair

Mr Ian Ward-Ambler Chairs the Mutitjulu Foundation, is a Trustee Director of CBA Group Super, and an Executive Coach. He is a Member of the Trinity College Board, and Member of the school council at Melbourne Grammar School, Chair of the Man Cave, Advisory Board Member, Indigenous Leadership, Excellence and Achievement Program (ILEAP) at Melbourne University.

Patricia (Trish) Angus PSM - Director

Ms Trish Angus is a Jawoyn woman and grew up in her home town of Katherine in the Northern Territory. She has experience and specialist knowledge in strategic policy, legislation, reporting and program and project development, along with operational and customer support.

Trish held senior executive public sector positions in the human services areas of health, housing, local government and community services for more than 20 years. She has experience of working in the Australian Defence Force, community controlled health organisations, and extensive governance experience, including board and committee memberships across a range of sectors.

Trish holds a Masters of Tropical/Public Health and has completed a public sector Executive Development Program and the Executive Fellows Program of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government. Trish retired from full time work in early 2012 and since then has taken up a range of governance roles.

She is a Director of the CareFlight Board and member of CareFlight's Audit and Risk Committee, Commissioner NT Tourist Commission and member of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee and a Member of the NT Heritage Council. Ms Angus is a Member of Charles Darwin University Vice Chancellor Indigenous Advisory Council and Member of NT Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review Expert Panel.

George Bedwani - Director

Mr George Bedwani has extensive international corporate hotel and hospitality experience including as General Manager of the Hotel InterContinental (Sydney), Group General Manager of Accor’s Darling Harbour hotels and General Manager of Cypress Lakes Resort (including the Golf Club and Elysia Health Retreat and Golden Door). Mr Bedwani was most recently the Chief Operating Officer of Transmetro Corporation Limited, an ASX listed company which operates the Metro Hotels chain. Metro Hotels manages a portfolio of 14 hotels and apartments as well as the Dugong Beach Resort on Groote Eylandt on behalf of the Anandilyakwa traditional owners.

Mr Bedwani has been appointed as a hospitality advisor for Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) and Australian Hotels Association (AHA) NSW. Mr Bedwani is a member of the AHA/TAA Northern Territory National Board. He represented the Australian hotel industry in Atlanta (U.S.) to gain experience for the hospitality industry in preparation for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Mr Bedwani was an attaché for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Owen Cole - Director

Mr Owen Cole has been active in Indigenous affairs for over 30 years. Mr Owen Cole is based in Alice Springs and has strong links to local Indigenous communities. He is currently Managing Director of Yeperenye Pty Ltd which has significant business interests in Central Australia.

Patricia Crossin - Director

Ms Trish Crossin is a former Senator (and first woman to represent the Northern Territory) in the Federal Parliament of Australia (1998-2013).

She was Chair of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee, Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and a Member of the Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committee.

Ms Crossin is a current Director of the Indigenous Land Corporation, and a Director on the Mutitjulu Foundation and St Columba's College Pty Ltd, Member of the Safer Communities of Wyndham Council and Member of the Advisory Committee on Indigenous Eye Health, University of Melbourne.

Previous positions held by Ms Crossin include President of Netball NT, Director with Asthma Foundation Victoria and inaugural chair and founder of the NT Working Women's Centre.

Ms Crossin is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor of Education. She has direct knowledge and experience working as a member of the federal government and an extensive background in governance of community and advisory boards. Her areas of expertise include comprehensive knowledge of the challenges of rural and remote Australia, government relations, education funding and policy.

Iain Evans - Associate Director

Mr Iain Evans is a Director of Wana Ungkunytja Pty Ltd, Thoroughbred Racing SA, Citrus Australia and Crime Stoppers SA and Chairman of Lenswood Cold Stores Society Limited and its subsidiaries. He was formerly a Director of Pika Wiya Aboriginal Health Service, Chairman of Radio Adelaide, Chairman of Recreation SA. Mr Evans was a state Member of Parliament for 21 years in South Australia serving as a Minister for 5 years and Leader and Deputy Leader of the State Liberal party.

Dorethea Randall - Director

Ms Dorethea Randall has strong traditional affiliation and family ties with the Yankunytjnatjara, Pitjantjatjara and Anmetyere people of Central Australia. She has long been an Advocate for Aboriginal people and has always strived to provide opportunities where possible.

Dorethea’s employment background commenced at an early age within the Performing Arts Industry. In NSW, Dorethea is known as a Founding Member of the Dance College NAISDA. Dorethea has experience across many areas which affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People such as Education, Employment and more recently Health.

Mr Peter Thomas has strong governance and financial skills. He was a Director of Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) from 2007 - 2016 where he chaired the Finance, Investment and Performance Committee. He was a Director of The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education from 2010 to 2016, where he chaired the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.

In addition, Peter holds or has held a number of Directorships of non-profit organisations, including The Museum of Contemporary Art, KTF (The Kokoda Track Foundation) and The Bluearth Foundation. He was a partner with KPMG for 25 years. He chairs the Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia Audit and Assurance Management Committee.

John Maher - Director

Mr John Maher has been CEO of the Indigenous Land Corporation since 1 June 2016. Prior to heading up the ILC Group, John was Managing Director and Chief Executive of the rural services company, Ruralco Holdings Ltd for nine years. During this time Ruralco was one of Australia’s fastest growing and highest returning agribusinesses, expanding its market capitalisation to $300 million.

Prior to Ruralco, John was an executive at Wesfarmers Ltd for 10 years. He has an honours degree in Agricultural Science from Sydney University, an MBA from AGSM, studied global agribusiness at Harvard Business School, completed the Advanced Management Program at INSEAD Business School in France and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has also served on a number of boards and industry organisations including Landmark, Agfarm, LiveCorp, AuctionsPlus and Autism Awareness Australia.